Historic Hythe ferry to cease trading on New Year's Eve

THE historic Hythe ferry will stop on New Year's Eve after becoming no longer financially viable, the owner has confirmed.

Lee Rayment, managing director of Blue Funnel Cruises Ltd, which took over the route between Hythe and Southampton in 2016, said the service was running at a loss and, unless someone stepped forward to buy the service, it would end.

A passenger ferry service has run between Hythe and Southampton since 1887.

In a statement he said: "It has sadly got to a point where Hythe Ferry has reached a position whereby it is no longer financially viable to continue trading as a business, despite best efforts, cutbacks and voluntary assistance.

"In fact, we are now running at a loss, which cannot be sustained during the historically quiet winter months."

He added: "Future necessary outlays are now unachievable. Therefore, ideally, the hope would be to sell the business and assets to keep the ferry operating. "We cannot continue to incur supplier/payroll debts when the business is not capable of covering those overheads.

"Consequently I have no alternative but to cease trading as of New Year's Eve 2022."

He told the A&T a recent cancer scare had meant a change in lifestyle was required and added: "Despite my love of the ferry, it's time for someone else to give it a push. I have put a lot of own money and time in to it and I'm not willing to do it any more."

Around 18 staff, a mixture of full and part-time, work for the ferry.

Mr Rayment told the A&T that if a buyer could not be found he would have to sell the boat to pay staff redundancy.

Blue Funnel Cruises Ltd, which offers a range of boat-related activities, is unaffected.